Geotourism: the tourism of geology and landscape

ISBN: 978-1-906884-09-3

“Both (authors) obviously have a passion for the subject, and this is reflected in their consistent efforts to bring this segment of tourism to the forefront of knowledge in industry and academia... (and)..the authors of the various chapters in this book represent a nice melange of academics and practitioners.” Journal of Heritage Tourism (Vol. 6, no. 2, 2011)

The subject of geotourism is growing rapidly with travel to and appreciation of natural landscapes and geological phenomena continuing to grow as a niche area of the global tourism industry. Geotourism: the tourism of geology and landscape is a compilation of first class international research which provides insight into the many facets of this emerging subject, and comprehensively explores the nexus between landscape, geological phenomena and tourism. Covering information on landscape appreciation, geoheritage, management, interpretation, education and the future of geotourism, it sets the scene and provides a clear definition of geotourism as well as information on its characteristics.

Comprehensively explores the nexus between landscape, geological phenomena and tourism;

Provides better understanding of geology through tourism and sets an agenda for the future;

Contains international insights and opinions on the management of geotourism: how it might be promoted, how to present it to the visitor, risk management and the vital issue sustainability.

With contributions for a team of international researchers, specialists, practitioners and protected area managers, Geotourism: the tourism of geology and landscape contains examples of geotourism concepts, development and practice from around the world.

Geotourism: the tourism of geology and landscape is part of a two volume set. Its companion volume Global Geotourism Perspectives brings together a range of case studies of geotourism from a number of countries including Australia, Brazil, China, Greece, Malaysia, Mauritius, New Zealand, Oman, South Africa and the USA. Taken together, the two books propel the subject to another level and provide an informed platform on which to build the future of geotourism.

Essential reading for all students, researchers, practitioners involved in the emerging and growing field of geotourism.

Contents: 1 Setting an agenda for geotourism; 2 The significance of aesthetic landscape appreciation to modern geotourism provision; 3 Australia’s geological heritage: a national inventory for future geoparks and geotourism; 4 Centralized data management approaches in geotourism: a view from Finland; 5 Promoting geotourism: a case study from northeast Iceland; 6 The Australian Alps: opportunities and challenges for geotourism; 7 Reconsidering the boundaries and applications of Geotourism – lessons learnt from tourism at Mount Vesuvius; 8 Management of geotourism stakeholders – experiences from the Network History of the Earth; 9 Geotourism in the Hawaiian Islands Lisa M. King, James Cook; 10 The Cretaceous fossil sites of South Korea: identifying geosites, science and geotourism; 11 Geotourism and geotourist education in Poland; 12 Geotourism product interpretation: Rangitoto Island, Auckland, New Zealand; 13 Geotourism potential in North Carolina: perspectives from interpretation at state parks; 14 Interpretation rocks! Designing signs for geotourism sites; 15 The Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site: understanding the nature of geotourism; 16 USA scenic byways – connecting people to places; 17 The UNESCO global network of national geoparks; 18 The future of geotourism: where to from here?

About the editors

David Newsome is an Associate Professor in the School of Environmental Science at Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia. His principal research interests are geotourism and the biophysical impacts of recreation and tourism in protected areas. Professor Newsome’s research and teaching focus on the sustainable recreational use of landscapes and the assessment and management of tourism activity in protected areas. He is the lead author of two books Natural Area Tourism: ecology, impacts and management and Wildlife Tourism and co-editor of Geotourism a book which has helped set the scene for the emergence of geotourism as a distinct discipline within the area of natural area tourism.

Ross K Dowling is Foundation Professor of Tourism in the School of Marketing, Tourism & Leisure, Faculty of Business & Law, at Edith Cowan University in Western Australia. Internationally he is an Advisor, UNESCO Global Network of National Geoparks (France), Executive Board Member of the Indian Ocean Tourism Organization (Oman), and Co-founder, International Cruise Research Society (Germany). In Australia he is Co-founder and Executive Director of Ecotourism Australia as well as an Advisor to Cruise Down Under. In Western Australia he is Chair of the Forum Advocating Cultural and Eco Tourism (FACET) as well as a Council Member of the Royal Automobile Club and the Minister of Tourism’s appointee to the Council of the National Trust.